Apparatus for fluid control



Sept. 5, 1939. F. HA MUELLER 2,171,942

APPARATUS FOR FLUID -CONTROL Filed .July s1, 19s? s sheets-sheet 1 ,0 57 Z J B 0 M w a ok @am #Magma Sept- 5, 1939. F. H.' MUELLER 2,171,942

APPARATUS FOR FLUID CONTROL Filed July 51, 193':` s sheets-sheet 2 Sept.5, 1939.

F. H. MUELLER Filed July 3l, 1937 APPARATUS FOR FLUID CONTROL 3Sheets-Sheet 3 glwuowtm Fran/(5 Muelle/1 Patented Sept. 5, 1939 UNITEDSTATES .PATENT OFFICE Frank H. Mueller, Decatur,

Ill., assigner to Mueller Co., Decatur, Ill., a corporation of IllinoisApplication July 31, 1937, Serial No. 156,795

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to apparatus for the control of fluid in aconduit which is to be repaired or in part replaced without substantialloss of iluid or fluid pressure therefrom, and in the case of a flowingconduit, without interruption of now. The invention relates moreparticularly to method and means for evacuating the section to beoperated on of the uid contained therein, for subsequently purging ofair the repaired or replaced section and reestablishing line pressuretherein, and for carrying out the various maneuvers without substantialdilution of the conduit liuid with air.

Suitable apparatus for accomplishing these various ends is shown by wayof example in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows atypical set-up with some parts in section and others in elevation,

Figure 2 is an enlargement of the showing at 20 the lower right ofFigure 1,

Figure 3 is a section substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a plan View, enlarged, of a valve plug appearing in thepreceding gures,

Figure y5 shows on an enlarged scale, the valve stern coupling appearingin Figures 1 and 2,

Figure 6 is anY elevation of the plug of Figure 4f,l

Figure 7 is an elevation of the same plug, but taken from the oppositeside,

Figure 8 is an axial section of another form of plug, and

Figure 9 is a section` substantially on line 9,-9 of Figure 8.

In the set-up shown in Figure 1, it is contemplated that a gas main I0,with flow therein in the direction of the arrow, is to be repaired orreplaced in the section indicated by the bracket I I, and that in anyevent the nature of the operation is such that flow through the sectionI I must be ,j interrupted, although flow must be maintained from oneside of the section to the other. Under these circumstances, two unitsI2 and I3 are installed, one at each side of section II and connected-bya by-pass conduit I4. The general system is fully described in mycopending application Serial No. 190,780, led September 14, 1936, and,accordingly, it will 'be unnecessary, in the present case, to go intogreat detail as to matters fully explained in the said application.

The units i2 and I 3 may be, and, as here shown, are, of identicalconstruction so that description of one will suffice. Particularreference will be had to unit i3, which, in part, appears in Figure 2 aswell as in Figure 1.

As here contemplated, the conduit I0 has fixed thereto a ttingcomprising upper and lower portions I5 and I6, which are secured to themain in coaxial relation, preferably by welding. A valve housing Il,carrying a gate valve I8 which may be projected across the chamber il',is fixed to the top of tting portion I5. In the manner described in myabove-mentioned application, an enclosed drilling apparatus has beentemporarily securedto the top of the housing il and holes i9 and I9 havebeen cut in the pipe. Upon removal of the drilling apparatus, a barrel2S with chamber 20 is secured to the top of the housing Il, the barrel20 being topped by a cap 2I having an upwardly projecting externallythreaded tubular extension 22, through which extends a tubular valvestem portion ,23, suitable packing being provided to prevent leakagearound the said stem portion so'tha'tthe housing unit constituted by thetting I5, I6, the valve casing I 'I and the barrel 23 is fluid-tight.

Adjacent its upper end the stern portion 23 has secured thereon, atleast against relative downward movement, an abutment collar 2e. Thecollar 24 :supportsa ball bearing assembly 25 which is in turnsurmountedby a double flanged collar 26 Vwhichvisv rotatable relative Ato the stemportion. Above the collar 26 is a spacer collar 2l against the top ofwhich bears the hub of a hand Vwheel 28 which is secured by a pin 29against rotation relative to the stem. A valve housing 30`is threaded onthe upper endv of the stem portion and carries a rotary plug SI which isadapted to open or close the valve passage. The upper end ofthe housing3l) is, threaded to receive a hose coupling 32 to" which is connected ahose length 33 havingl at its other end a coupling 34;

The stem portion 23 may be raised and lowered and turned by appropriatemanipulation of the hand wheel 28, but since for some operationsconsiderable force is required to raise or lower it, suitable devicesare provided for imparting powerful thrustv to it through the angedsleeve 26. For this purpose a nutr35- is threaded on the extension 22and has pivoted thereto through the diametrically opposedhandles 3&3kandv 3l a yoke 38 whose cross portion 4is recessed and is swingable tothe'upwardlyextending position shown inFigure 1 so that the recessreceives the intermediateportion of the sleeve 26, the relation beingsuch that upon upward or downward movement of the yoke induced byrotation of nut 35 the' margins of 'the cross portion recess will engagethe upperor lower flange of the sleeve 2t to raise or lower the stemportion. At the sides orthe recess the' cross portion of the yoke isproi vided with projecting lugs 39 and 40 which are pierced to receive apin so that accidental swinging of the yoke away from sleeve 26 isprevented. Downward movement of the yoke is efliciently transmittedthrough the ball bearing assembly 25.

Referring to Figures 2 and 5 as well as to Figure l, the lower end ofthe stem portion 23 is united by a coupling generally indicated at 4Iwith a valve plug generally indicated at 42. The lower reduced end ofthe stem portion is snugly received in the bore of a substantiallycylindrical coupling member 43 and is securely welded to the latter.Member 43 has a socket portion 44 threaded with left hand threads and anenlarged coaxial socket portion threaded with right hand threads for thepurposes described in my abovementioned priorapplication. A cylindricalshell 46 freely receives member 43 and has a top inner annular flange 4lbearing against the top marginal portion of the said member. The skirtof shell 46 extends below the lower edge of member 43 when flange 4Tabuts the top of the latter and its lower portion is provided withinternal threads which are adapted to engage threads formed on theterminal iiange 48 of the neck portion 49 of a cap 50 constituting apart of the plug 42. The plug 42 and its details are particularly shownin Figures 2 to '7 to which reference will now be made.

Extending downwardly through the neck 49 is a tubular stem portion 5Iwhich has a head 52 normally resting on top of ilange 48. The head 52 isof smaller diameter than the flange and in its lower portion has formedtherein recesses 53 and 54 which receive the inner portions of upwardlyprojecting lugs 55 and `56 formed on top of flange 48, the lugs beingpositioned on the iiange as particularly shown in Figure 4. Relativerotation of cap 50 and stem portion 5I is thus prevented, althoughrelative sliding is permitted.

Coupling member 43 'has notches 5-1 and 58 (Figure 5) in its lower edge.adapted to receive the outer portions of lugs 55 and .56 and when thelugs are engaged in the notches, Aas shown most clearly in Figure 2,rotative movement .ofstem portion 23 may be positively imparted to cap50 and stem Aportion 5I to adjust the plug 42.

Below cap 5,9 a generally cylindrical valve body 59 of compressiblematerial such as rubber is strung on the stem portion 5I and retained bya lower cap 60 which is held on the lower end 4of stem portion 5I by vacap screw 6I threaded in the bottom of the latter.. ,Y

Medially the body 59 is ,provided with a transverse through openingcomplementary to a pair of ttings 62 and 63. Fitting 62 has a verticalbore 64 slidably receiving stem portion 5I and Yis provided with acommunicating counterbore 65 merging outwardly into amouth 66. Stemportion 5l is provided with van elongated opening ..61 which is in atleast partial register with opening 65 at all times, the normal relationof the openings beingvshown in Figure 2.

Fitting 63 is secured by "screws to the fitting 62. It has an upper wallportion .68 inclined inwardly to merge into the bottom of al recess 69,of arcuate cross section, formed in the body 59 thereabove. Fitting 63also has an outwardly projecting peripheral flange .'II) interrupted atthe bottom of the recess 69 and further has a iin 'II in the plane ofthe plug axis providing an outer vertical guiding edge. Both fittingsare within the projection of the body 59.

The cap 50 has a recess 'I2V above recess 69 providing a continuation ofthe latter. Furthermore, as here shown the cap has a lower peripheralflange inwardly bevelled to receive the bevelled end of the body 59.'Ihe cap 66 similarly receives the lower end of body 59 and below tting63 has an elongated flange portion T3.

Figure 5 shows the stem portion 23 as about to be coupled with the stemportion 5I and flange 48 of neck 49. Figure 2 shows the coupling ashaving been completed through engagement of shell 46 with flange 48.Member 43 bears against the top flange 48 and is locked to the latterand to stem portion 5| trhough the lugs 55 and 56. In order to insure afluid tight joint between the stem portions, a compressible gasket 'I4may be interposed between the top of head 52 and the shoulder whichexists at the lower end of socket portion `44.

Referring particularly to Figure 2, the plug 42 is shown as having beenlowered through the openings I9 and I9 to bring cap 60 into abutmentwith the shoulder I6' of the tting portion I6. The tting 62 is facedinto the section II which is to be repaired or replaced or otherwiseoperated on and fitting 63 is faced into the down stream side of themain I0. The upper edge of flange 'i3 projects into the opening I9 and,as here shown, somewhat thereabove, while the n l extends substantiallyabove the opening I9. If downward pressure is now exerted on stemportion 23 through operation of the pressure applying mechanism 35, 38,cap 50 and stem portion 5I will be moved downwardly relative to cap 60so that longitudinal compression is exerted on body 59 and the latter isexpanded to be seated transversely of the main and to the left againstthe adjacent edges of the .openings I9 and I9 whereby the main isplugged and the section to be repaired is shut oi from the downstreamside of the main. However, flow can .occur between the latter and theunit vcasing and flow may .occur between section I I and the hollowvalve stem as controlled by the valve plug 3|. In compressing the valvebody stem portion 5I has been moved downwardly somewhat relative tottings 62 and 63 and cap 65 but capacity ow through opening 65 isstillpossible due to the .elongation of opening 61. The body 59 iscompressed both above and below ttings 62 and 63 so that the latter willthemselves have been moved downwardly to some extent, but the upper endof fin 1I is still in front of the edge of opening I9 and prevents unduedisplacement of the plug to the right.

No seal is desired at the right hand side of the plug (Figure 2) andconsequently flow of the rubber longitudinally of the main should bepredominantly to the left where the seal is to be made. Fitting 63serves to impede flow of the rubber in its direction and enables higherpressures to be stopped 01T than with a solid rubber plug. The endflange 'I3 prevents the rubber on the right hand side of the plug fromengaging the sharp edge of the opening I9 and thus the lift of the plugbody is increased. Furthermore, ilange 'I3 serves to restrain flow o-fthe rubber and exerts a wedging action so that flow in the lower portionof the plug and longitudinally of the main is predominantly to the left.Also with the use of the fitting 63 the rubber is of smaller volume andtherefore more economical to replace and the support which the fittingprovides permits a much larger by-pass area 69 than in the solid type ofplug.

- The unit I2 (Figure 1) is Oppositely disposed in the main as comparedto the unit I3 so that the section Il is in communication through thefittings 62 with both of the valve stem passages while the chamber ofunit I2 is in communication with the upstream side of the line throughrecess 89. The barrels of the two units are connected by the by-passconduit I4 and three-way valves 'I5 and I6 are interposed in the conduitI4 adjacent their respective barrels. Valve 'I5 has a nipple I'Iengageable by the hose coupling 34 for connection with the hollow stemof unit I2 while valve 'I6 has a similar nipple 'I8 for engagement bythe coupling 34 of the other hose section so as to be connectible withthe hollow valve stem of the other unit I3.

After the line has been pierced within the fittings I5, I6 the gatevalves I8 are closed so that the drill housing can be removed andreplaced by the barrels 20 in which the plugs are disposed. Flow at thistime is through section II. The system as set up is full of air and toavoid dilution of the fluid in the main a desirable preliminary step isthe purging of the air from the system.

To accomplish this, valves 'I5 and "I5 in the bypass conduit are eachturned 180 from the posi tion illustrated so that flow through thenipple 'il is prevented and flow through the nipple 'I3 is permitted.Hereupon, valves 30 being closed, the gate valve of unit I2 is somewhatopened so that gas can flow through the associated chamber 2S and theconduit I4 up to and out of the nipple I8, driving the air before it. Inorder that any escaping gas may be carried away -to a safe place, thehose 33 of unit I3 may be coupled with the nipple 'I8 and uncoupled fromthe valve 32. To purge the unit I3, valve 'I5 may be now turned in acounterclockwise direction 90 from the position shown and the gate valveI8 of the unit i3 slightly opened to permit iiow from the main throughchamber 20 and out through nipple 78. Since the gate valve is seatedupwardly with considerable force by reason of the pressure in the main,the last described purging operation may be more conveniently carriedout by turning the by-pass valve 'I9 (Figure 2) to the position shown sothat fluid from the main can flow through the opening 80 in the bottomwall of the hollow gate valve I8, out of the open inner end of the gatevalve, and through the by-pass conduit 8l to the chamber 20.

Or, more simply still, entire purging of the system can be effected byturning the valves 'I5 and 'I6 to the positions first described aboveand turning the plug I9 90 in a counterclockwise direction from theposition shown in Figure 2 so that the upper part of the by-pass 8l isconnected with the outlet 82. This latter practice, however, is somewhatobjectionable in that there will be some escape of gas through outlet 82in the vicinity of the workmen as the gas follows the air out at theconclusion of the purging operation.

The by-pass conduit may now be placed in operation to the exclusion ofsection II by opening both valves I8 and pushing the plugs 42 to theirlowermost positions and expanding them as above described. Valve I6 isin the position shown in Figure 1, and the valve l5 has been turned 180from the position shown in Figure 1 so that the flow takes placeupwardly through the chamber of unit I2, across conduit I4 anddownwardly through the chamber of unit I3 to the downstream side of themain I0.

Section II may now be cut into Without loss of uid from the main. Thesection II however,

is assumed to be full of gas, although dead, and the escape of gas fromthe same upon cutting into it, especially with an acetylene torch, isapt to produce a dangerous situation. Consequently it is desirable thatthe gas be driven from section II before operations are commencedthereon. To accomplish this it is merely necessary that both couplings34 be disengaged and valves 30 opened, permitting the gas to risethrough the hollow stems and to be led away through the hoses. Tocomplete the evacuation of section I I, air may be blown thr-ough onehose to displace the gas through the other. Section II may now beoperated on without danger of resultant explosion.

When the operations on section II have been completed it remains lledwith air which upon restoration of the section to ow would dilute thegas in the main. Consequently it is desirable to purge the air from thesaid section prior to its restoration of service. With the partsadjusted as shown in Figure 1, to accomplish this, it is only necessaryto open both valves 30 so that gas ows downwardly through the hollowstem of unit I2 displacing the air from section II upwardly through thehollow stem of unit I3 and out through the associated hose 33. The endof the latter may be placed in a bucket of soap suds and a test can bemade to determine when section II been completely purged of air.

When this has been accomplished, the valve 30 of unit I3 is closed,causing pressure to build up in section I i until it is equal to thepressure in the line. When the pressure has thus been equalized, it isonly necessary to raise the plugs above the gate valves, close thelatter and then plug the upper fitting portions I5 in the mannerdescribed in my above-mentioned prior application.

In the modified form of plug shown in Figures 8 and 9, the fitting 83corresponds in function and disposition with the fitting 62 previouslydescribed. 'Ihe caps 84 and 85 on their sides opposite tting B3 areoutwardly inclined toward each other, as at 83 and 3l, and terminate inlips 88, 89, the caps being substantially circular in projection. Itwill be evident that upon movement of cap 84 toward cap 85 the wedgingeffect of the right hand portions of the caps will cause predominantexpansion of the compressible plug body 90 to the left. A by-pass recessexists above portion 86 of cap 84 and a fin 9| rises from the latter andhas the same function as the fin 'II previously described.

The plugs per se and in their direct combination of elements are coveredin a divisional application Serial No, 200,000, filed April 4, 1938,

While I have described specific apparatus and various uses thereof, itwill be understood that the apparatus may be Varied from that disclosedherein in details of form and arrangement, and that uses of theapparatus are not confined to those described. The invention is not tobe considered as limited beyond what is explicitly set forth in thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for use in Icy-passing uid around a section of a pipeline comprising ttings adapted to enclose the pipe at either side ofsaid section, each of said fittings having an open cylindrical portionextending outwardly from the pipe so that openings may be made in thepipe and within the ttings, members insertable through the opencylindricall portion of the fitting and into the pipe and adapted toprevent ow of uid into said section and to permit ilow of uid 35 betweenthe Iopen cylindrical portions of the tting and the remainder of thepipe, a conduit adapted to connect the respective open cylindricalportions of the fittings, and a controllable connection between the pipeline and the section whereby uid from the pipe line may be admitted tothe section to displace the air from the latter, there being a vent forthe displaced air.

2. An apparatus for use in by-passing fluid around a section of a pipeline comprising fittings adapted to enclose the pipe at either side ofsaid section, each of said fittings having an open cylindrical portionextending outwardly from the pipe so that openings may be made in thepipe and within the fittings, expansible members insertable through theopen cylindrical portion of the fitting and into the pipe and adapted tobe expanded to prevent flow of fluid into said section and havingpassageways therein to permit flow of uid between the open cylindricalportions of the fitting and the remainder of the pipe, a conduit adaptedto connect the respective open cylindrical portions of the ttings, and acontrollable connection between the pipe line and the section wherebyuid from the pipe line may be admitted to the section to displace theair from the latter, there being a vent for lthe displaced air.

3. An apparatus for use in by-passing fluid around a section of a pipeline comprising fittings adapted to enclose the pipe at either side ofsaid section, each of said fittings having an open cylindrical portionextending outwardly from the pipe so that openings may be made in thepipe and within the fittings, members insertable through the opencylindrical portion of the fitting and into the pipe and adapted toprevent flow of fluid into said :section and to permit flow of udbetween the open ycylindrical portions of the fitting and the remainderof the pipe, a conduit adapted to connect the respective opencylindrical portions of the fittings, at least one of said membershaving a hollow operating stem secured thereto and an opening in itsside placing one end of the hollow stem in communication with the saidsection, a valved opening in said conduit and a connection between thevalved opening and the other end of the hollow stem whereby connectionmay be established between the conduit and the section to permit iiow ofuid into the latter.

4. An apparatus for use in by-passing fluid around a section of a pipeline comprising fittings adapted to enclose the pipe at either side ofsaid section, each of said fittings having an open cylindrical portionextending outwardly from the pipe so that openings may be made in thepipe and Within the ttings, members insertable through the opencylindrical portion of the fitting and into the pipe and adapted toprevent flow of fluid into said section and to permit flow of uidbetween the open cylindrical portions of the fitting and the remainderof the pipe, a conduit adapted to connect the respective opencylindrical portions of the fittings, both of said members having hollowoperating stems secured thereto and openings in the adjacent sides ofsaid members placing the lower ends vof said -hollowstems incommunication with said section, whereby fluid may be purged from thesection by injecting a different uid into the upper end of one of thehollow stems and permitting it to fiow out of the upper end of the otherhollow stem.

FRANK H. MUELLER. 5

